More Than Midway

 I haven't gotten very far on April. Between what was happening with the thumb and the scenery building, things were crazy.

Don't you think that C looks more like a G? I'm not sure what the designer was thinking. I'm going to have to go back and fix that somehow.

Reaching For the Stars

 This was a much anticipated weekend.

 We had some lovely spring weather for our latest skating team outing.

The Mister and I had to cram the car full to get everything where it needed to be. At 3 am Sunday morning I was actually re-doing the lampost lanterns after I woke realizing we might have an issue switching them on. Never underestimate the subconscious for solving problems you didn't even know you had.

 It was warm and sunny and I nearly had a heatstroke getting the sets all put together. It took me three hours of hammering, pinning and taping to get all three backdrops, lampposts and trees put together. The wind was not my friend.

Inside the rink we were crammed in like sardines. There were eight teams of 20 plus kids going on within minutes of each other. All with as much or more scenery as we had and we had a lot. It was a tense situation.

There were costumes and props piled up everywhere. I have no idea how anyone knew where their stuff was when it came time to go on.

 The girls took it in stride. They looked great in their new punk wigs and vests.

I had to skate this time around. It was my first time out in years. I thought I was going to throw up until I got on the ice and then I had a blast. I played an old lady doing what else......knitting on a park bench. I took my giant needles and a giant ball of yarn I had made from strips of knit fabric. I was more than happy that my granny wig stayed on.

It took me so long to put up the sets and knock them down again that I never really got to see any other performances. It all was a blur.

We had moved ourselves up to a higher, harder catagory to see what we could do and were rewarded with a third place finish. We really didn't expect to medal so this bronze felt mighty good around my neck.

As usual, there were laughs and some tears but all in all it was a great weekend. We've got one more competition and one show to go and then it's time to put it all away until next year. Who am I kidding? We are already in the planning stages for next year. I can't wait!

New Toys

 I was hanging out at Ikea the other day when I noticed these ice cube molds in the Marketplace.

They were only $1 a piece. Sold.

 I took them home and filled them up with leftover soap. I've got big plans for them.

I also finally broke down and bought a soap miter box. It keeps your blade straight so you get even bars.

I made a mini loaf to try it out. It worked perfectly.

This was a mini loaf of a swirled patchouli mix that that came out pretty bad the first time I tried it.

See what I mean? It smells great but ugh. Look at that. It looks like a piece of rotten ham. Ewwww.....I won't be doing that again. That's just terrible.

Forty Eight

 I still love warping with counting threads. It makes everything so much easier.

I'm also still fond of rolling the warp rather than chaining. I'm all about keeping tangles at bay.

 What I'm not crazy about was having to add the single white contrast threads one by one because I couldn't figure out how to warp it along with the other threads. Thank goodness there were only forty eight.

The problem now is that I want to leave it this way. This is the prettiest warp ever. I just don't want to wind it on.

A Trip to the Island

 I've got another FO. The Seychelles shawl is finished.

 It went out in the sun to block. The weather has been perfect for drying things. I wish I had a clothesline.

It's hard to show how pretty this pattern is.

 It is the easiest lace shawl I have ever made-and I've made a lot.

 It looks like a very complicated pattern but it is ridiculously simple. I didn't even have to use a single stitch marker. I usually use hundreds.

 It's hard to believe this pretty little thing.....

 ....started out like this only a year ago.

It just goes to show you that little bits of spinning here and there can really add up.

Stick a Fork In It

The Galliano vest is a done deal.

I hated the armhole edging so after blocking, I ripped it out. It really doesn't need any since it's still too wide in the shoulders.

 Here are the official mug shots. Back.

 Lace hem.

Front.

I was a bit meh about the whole thing until I remembered it started out looking like this....

 ....and then this. I keep thinking that this yarn could have been put to better use with a pattern more suited for wonky handspun. Oh, well. You can't win them all.

Sproing

 All of a sudden things are coming alive. The hostas (or deer snacks as we like to call them) are emerging inches a day now.

 If you look closely right in the middle you can see the first of the hydrangia buds. We had no blooms last year due to the cold winter so I'm anxious to see how they made it through this year's arctic temps.

 The dark pink camellia is full of buds and a few early blooms.

The light pink camellias have really put on a show. The bush itself is a little bent and spindly after the harsh winter but the flowers don't seem to care.

Last but not least, these mounds of yellow blooms are popping up everywhere. I'm not sure what they are but I look forward to seeing them return every year.